Newspapers and posters in the bigger towns have shown the words of the First Elector:

"We are going to war, my people. The Electors do not take any more insults from the scoundrel Böhnstadter: our land must belong to the people who deserve it. This war would require much manpower, but the cause is well worth the risk; and I know and feel in my heart that the good men of the Union will not hesitate and join the Army as soon as possible. God be with you,

'Fine', said von Presser outloud as he finished the list. 'I'm going to make some proposals to my fellow Electors.'
The cause the Electors' Council gathered was quite serious. A civilian living on the other side of the Böhnstadt-Flossian frontier rode to Rückelburg with the news of major Böhnstadter operations (at least a brigade, and the Principality had only two) near Schrimpsdorf and Rotsdorf. They, the Council and the people wanted war no doubt, that was the reason of regular troops participating in frontier raids. The only question was how to begin. If they do not follow diplomacy, Leuwenthaal, formally an ally of both the Union and the Principality would intervene; then there's a chance for Glambria entering the war too.
The Council was seated around an U-shaped table when von Presser entered the room. They've also invited the head of the Union's army, Feldmarschall Otto von Leuchtenberg to dispute the case; the commander was standing at the moment, between the two branches of the table. He held a piece of paper in one, and a long cigar in his other hand.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

After receiving 50000 thalers from the Chancellery for finances (the payment being 1 thaler per week for a foot soldier and 1.5 thalers for a cavalryman, 100 thalers for a cavalry and 75 for an infantry commander per month; volunteers, freelancers receiving half pay), the 1st Schultzdorf Brigade started its march to Störkburg. General von Hohenspitz decided to make a continuous march for three days and spent the fourth bivouacked near the village of Lochkirchen.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

An errand reached General Karl von Hohenspitz directly after mustering the Schultzdorf Brigade by the side of his Arch-Princeps. The letter the messenger has given him contained an invitation to Lord-Chancellor Erik von Südflosse's office. As his Princeps already mentioned this to the General, he was prepared to set off immediately.

'This must mean no good', contemplated the old man, as he rode up on the streets of Böhnstadt. When Princeps Erhard Berthold isn't making personal contacts, it always means something wrong is about to happen.

Mind if I illustrate the posts without any actions like this?

The halls of the Chancellery were almost empty. A few guards on the corridors, that is all. 'Come on in General', Südflosse invited von Hohenspitz inside his huge office when he saw him standing at the doorstep. 'This is a most urgent task and therefore I must speak to you personally. Please sit.'

'Any inconveniences, Lord Chancellor?', asked the General. He did not really like Südflosse's attitude but had to admit his achievments. The Lord-Chancellor was an interesting person nonetheless, already at the head of the most important office in Böhnstadt and not even entering his thirties.

'Inconveniences it is, General Major', replied von Südflosse. 'There were numerous Union raids on our border guard posts around Rotsdorf and threatening Störkburg itself. Quite an insult, but as we are formally allies bound together, we cannot take any direct action.'

'That land has always disturbed our fellow Flossians somehow, I say-'

'Now, as I'm entirely sure you have already understood, we do not want to provoke war with the Union', interrupted the Lord-Chancellor, 'therefore the movement of our troops must be subtle to say the least.'

'What have you thought of, Sir?', asked von Hohenspitz politely.

'Well,' Südflosse cleared his throat, 'after the mustering in the capital, the Schultzdorf Brigade will be making its way to Störkburg for a month or two of practice with the cadets of the Military Academy. It's not a sign of aggression towards the Flossians and probably just the marching of the Brigade will stop those brigands' attacks on our outposts.'

'Sounds subtle enough. But why not send the Dreichholm Brigade if I may ask?'

'Simple as that, General. I do not want any atrocities down there which our dear General von Spülge tends to cause. He is my far relative and I am informed of his acquaintances every each time.'

'Reasonable', replied von Hohenspitz. 'Are you writing the orders?'

'The orders are already written, Herr Generalmajor. Signed by the Princeps himself.' He handed a thick envelope pulled out one of his desk's many drawers.

After the General rode back to his quarters, he opened the letter immediately. The first page (there was two) contained the following:

Current campaign orders

to the hands of Generalmajor Karl von Hohenspitz,

Schultzdorf Brigade, Böhnstadt

The Schultzdorf brigade marches to Störkburg where it officially joins the annual excercises of the Military Academy's branch of officers. In the case of increasing Flossian threat, the commander of the army (Gen. Maj. von Hohenspitz by appointment) is free to decide what actions the Brigade should take; but make sure not to provoke the Union forces as it is unwise to stain our prospering alliance in such ways.

'As if they hadn't stained it already', murmured the old general.

The second letter contained secret orders written by von Südflosse.

Dear General,

For your convenience, here are the secret orders which cannot be made public during any circumstances. As I am quite sure you would make this decision sooner or later, your Freelance Companies, led by Herr Oberstleutnant Alfons von Petzger, must make their way to Rotsburg and later on, if the attacks continue, to the threatened outposts by chance.

Yours truly,

Lord-Chancellor Erik von Südflosse

'Fine, fine', said von Hohenspitz again to himself. 'I'll see to that tomorrow. Long time since I had ridden my war steed.' He sat to his desk and started writing orders to his Brigade to march.

Monday, October 15, 2012

A small group of riders left the south-eastern gate of Böhnstadt in an early March morning. The group was led by a middle-aged man riding a white horse: Princeps Erhard Berthold von Jazygia, who, by the invitation of the man accompanying him, Generalmajor von Hohenspitz, managed to make some changes in his schedule and rode to see the 1st or Schultzdorf Brigade.

They left the gate galloping but slowed their steeds soon to enjoy the morning weather.

'So you're saying, Hohenspitz, that our army is ready to fight?' The Princeps was eager to start a conversation.

'Yes, your Highness, they are very fine and well-behaved men...'

'Well?'

'At least most of them. No complaining, they do their job and that's all I need.'

'Do you keep discipline then?'

'Of course I do. The first principle of maintaining an army is discipline.'

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Captain Fritz von Braun, while smoking his clay pipe, prepared a patrol at a guard post near the Flossian border of Schultze-Böhnstadt. They were just a few miles west of Rotsdorf but the Captain did not like this place at all. He had a platoon of lazy foot soldiers, four hussars who were more lazy if that could even be possible, and another platoon of the local Border Guards who were just unmentionably lazy.

Doesn't matter, the patrol began. At least they are accepting orders, von Braun told himself. But as they wandered off to the woods westwards of the outpost...

Saturday, October 13, 2012

All independent army divisions consist of a main army and the supply train, camp followers, workers etc.

Battalion of foot consists of 120 soldiers, cavalry squadron of 90. Artillery battery consists of 4 field guns or 10 mortars, no multi-barreled or howitzers.

Regiment of foot is 3 battalions by standard, cavalry regiment is 2 squadrons.

Hierarchy

Army (usually one per state)

Corps - grouped temporally

Division - 2 brigades

Brigade

Each brigade by standard has a pioneer battalion and a pair of dragoon and light cavalry squadrons for foraging, reckoning, escorting duties.

Pioneer battalion's crew is 45 grenadiers and 75 field workers, 15/25 making up an operative company. They can build defense lines, palings, bridges, trenches etc., repair buildings, set up artillery depots.

Regiment

Regiment of foot

Commander - Lt. Gen. or Colonel - 1st battalion

Vice-commander - Lt. Col. - 2nd battalion

ADCs

3rd battalion commander - Major

1-3 bat. vice-commanders, Major/Capt.

Regimental clerk and subordinates per battalion

All battalions and higher units can own standards, elite squads can be set up for defending these.

Cavalry regiment

Commander

Vice-commander

ADCs

Squadron commanders

V. Sqd. commanders

Company leaders

Clerk and subordinates per squadron

Stablemen, acquirers, smith

Cuirassier regiments do not belong to any brigades' list.

Böhnstadt army list at the start of current campaign

First campaign

-2 Brigades

1. (Schultzdorf)
Brigade

Von Hohenspitz

At quarters in Böhnstadt outskirts

Schlachtgruppe 1. (temporary) – Maxim Harlein

I Rgt./1 Pioneer battalion – Lt. Col Harlein (qual.: 7)

1-2. Field Gun Battery – Col.
Gertwitz (X)

1. (Eugen) Jäger btn. – Maj.
Jagdfeld [Swiss] (4)

Infanterie – Herbert
von Plischke

1st Prinzipalitär Guard Rgt. of Foot btn. 1-3. – von Plischke (5)

btn. 4-5. Grenadiers (5)

2nd (Störkburger) Rgt of Foot btn. 1-3. – Col. von Blatter (4)

btn. 4. Grenadiers (6)

Kavallerie – Markus
Kollerbach

3. Rgt. Kav. Leib-Dragoner bat. 1-2. – Col. Kollerbach (3)*

*Dragoons, considered as mounted foot soldiers, are organized into battalions when under direct command of a Brigade's HQ.

Friday, October 12, 2012

...Or what I have invented so far! This list contains the characters which are already set and are to lead the armies of Schultze-Böhnstadt and the Union an dem Flosse.

Main stats: roll on 1d20

1. Temperament – will affect battlefield and campaign
decisions

1-4 Misantrophic

5-8 Moody

9-12 Moderate

13-16 Bold

17-20 Hot-headed

2. Training (can change regarding academic training)

1-4 Inept

5-8 Quickly learning

9-12 Adept

13-16 Spirited

17-20 Seasoned

Secondary stats: based on primary & others

Cavalry/infantry/foot commander

Education and interests

Leader pack, Schultze-Böhnstadt

Erhard Berthold von Jazygia – Princeps of Böhnstadt

Private Education: +-1 on Temperament, +1 on Training

Temperament: 8+1 Moderate

Training: 9+1 Adept

Non-military

The Princeps is a busy man, always caring about diplomacy
and managing his state. He inherited the throne after his father Eugen Jürgen
at the age of 24, he’s 38 now and knows his way in politics – but not warfare
as he spent the last 14 years in peace. Due to his high education he is quick
to learn though.

Erik von Südflosse

College of Schultzdorf education: +-1 on Temperament

Temperament: 13-1 Moderate

Training: 16 Spirited

Non-military

Von Südflosse is the young (28) right hand of the Princeps
as Lord-Chancellor of his Council. He likes to do every each of his tasks before
due time and hastens every process he is able to. Has a weakness for women and
tends to forget things too fast.

Karl von Hohenspitz – General Major

Störkburg Academy training: +-2 on Temperament; +2 on
Training

Temperament: 8+2 Moderate

Training: 18+2 Seasoned

Cavalry commander

A veteran of the Varangian Wars and at the age of 56, Karl
von Hohenspitz lead the armies of Schultze-Böhnstadt to victory countless
times. His enemies fear him, so do his soldiers. Awarded with the Order of the
Flosse by the tetrarchs of the Union and the Great Cross of the Shining Star by
his Princeps, Erhard Berthold of the House of Jazygia. He collects various
coins and bird feathers, and loves to compose cheesy poems. Commands the
peace-time armies of Böhnstadt which are reduced in number and require a
„lesser general” to lead. His rank means he must attend the 1st (Schultzdorf)
Brigade as well and command his subordinate von Spülge of the 2nd brigade.

Von Spülge is a lazy young officer who inherited his
military rank at the age of 30 after the death of his father, Anders von
Spülge, a dignified military genius of the early wars of the century. He
finished the Military Academy with not so shiny grades and has been a Colonel
of the Prinzess Angela Küirassieren before being promoted to general. He has no
clue about the military arts whatsoever, but has a kind and gentle heart and
knows his men well. He leads the 2nd (Dreichholm) Brigade of the Principality’s
armies.

Leader pack, Flosse

Magnus Walther von Presser - Elector

Rückelburg Academy of Law, +-2 on Te, +2 on Tr

Te 20-2 Hot-headed

Tr 2+2 Inept

Infantry commander

The head of the Electorate,
62-year old von Presser is from a highborne family and has worked as a lawyer in
the State Office of Rückelburg, then became an attorney – he knows how to
direct a state by law, and is a very virtuous man who respects his opponents.
Likes riding and has an own infantry regiment he commands with an iron fist. In
fact he lacks military experience as he has spent the last few conflicts
sitting in various offices. It’s easy to make him angry and more easier to make
peace with him. The four electors by the way do not vote for a common leader –
they share power instead and hold councils every month in Rückelburg.

Lothar Könstrelle - Elector

Businessman, +1 on Te, -1 on Tr

Te 10+1 Moderate

Tr 1-1, Very Inept

Infantry commander

The second elector is a wool importer. Könstrelle is a
simple man with a low attention span and always full of ideas. He is the
most balanced personality of the four, but has zero military experience.

Michael Michheim - Elector

Scholar, -1 on Te, +2 on Tr

Te 9-1 Moody

Tr 4+2, Quickly learning

Infantry commander

The bishop Michheim, the third elector is a very cautious
man and has a wide variety of interests. He’s 40, and usually in a bad mood. He
is a collector of ancient literature and can be rarely seen without a book or
two. There are rumors about him visiting brothels in Rückelburg but who can
judge these?

Alfred von Strutzenheim - Elector

Military Academy of Schlachthoff am Flosse, +-2 on Te, +1 on
Tr

Te 17-2 Bold

Tr 3+1 Inept

Cavalry commander

The fourth elector, being 47 now, rose to fame in the
Varangian Wars and the War of Leuwenthaal, first as a mercenary working for
Glambria, then a colonel of his own kinsmen. He’s not good at leading men but
very fine as a second-in-command or leading a flank. He cannot bear
responsibility and lacks creativity – two things that don’t match to a commander
in his rank, as all electors are ordered to raise a Brigade when it comes to war.
He’s also quick to snap at any of his subordinates if they make a mistake. On
the positive side: he’s a daring cavalry commander („he’s too stupid to
understand how perilous his situation is”, as his commander, Josquin de Derpi
said at the battle of Bugsdam).

Otto von Leuchtenberg – Field Marshall

Military Academy of Schlachthoff am Flosse, +-2 on Te, +1 on
Tr

Te 19-2 Hot-headed

Tr 5+1 Quickly learning

Infantry commander

Leuchtenberg bought a rank of General at the age of 49, he’s
52 now and, as there is no better man to lead the armies of the Union, he is
entitled as CIC of all the military force within the state. A very responsible
man, but „has no fantasy”, as one of his colleagues mentioned. He likes racing
and hunting hounds above all, and smokes way too much.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

On the map
One turn equals one day. One hex is approx. 5 miles or 8 kilometres.
An army unit can move 4 hexes on roads by standard, plus roll 1d6: 1= 3 hexes only, 6= 5 hexes.
If a unit moves 4 hexes subsequently for 5 turns (or 20 over the same amount of turns), it becomes fatigued and must stand still in the following turn.
Smaller groups of foragers, escort groups, caravans etc. may move 5/6 hexes depending on their role plus roll 1d6, 1=-1 hex, 6=+1 hex.
A messenger with changing horses may move 8, without changing horses 7 hexes. No dice (but availability of horses in each village can be determined by dice).

Orders
At the beginning of each campaign, generals consult with their government. Army groups may interact with messengers. All commands and directives shall be written.

Battle
A maximum of two armies can participate in one battle session. The in-game map must follow the terrain of the hex it is fought in.
Leaders exchange written messages on the field. Orders in battle must also be written for all units before starting, containing their objectives.

If an army fights more battles in subsequent turns, it must fight these with the same number of troops as in the previous one(s). Units otherwise roll dice to determine how many of their losses had become wounded and dead (1d10/1d20 for percentages or custom dice [sides equal number of casualties+1, reduce result by 1, if 0 it means 0 troops are dead: tool here). Dead soldiers, obviously, do not return to their unit, while wounded are able to return in the next three turns.

Experience
All units start the campaign with a basic experience considering their earlier role (Guard, line, veterans, volunteers etc.) and can gather experience for both battles won and lost.

Improvements
No improvements on rate of fire in the Academies. No multi-barreled guns or howitzers.

Supplies

Armies carry a determined quantity (for X days) with them. Fortifications also contain a determined quantity of supplies. They use these faster in winter and armies must invest extra money on clothing and other accessories (firewood, shoes etc.). On the contrary it is easier in summer and autumn to find food in villages.
Armies are set up with a budget which they can spend in villages and towns. They must pay their soldiers in due time. Carriages with escorts can be sent from capitals to refill an army's budget.
If food or payment isn't enough troops may revolt or sack nearby villages or towns.

A post about army compositions (at least in the Principality) will be published ater.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A briefing on the Principality itself and the nations it interacts with:

Schultze-Böhnstadt is in the east and north-east of the continent. Her towns and villages have huge distances between each other, but they are highly populated. The capital is Böhnstadt, and the country is ruled by the Arch-Princeps. The flag and coat of arms both feature a green line on red field, with a mountain goat jumping over a rock with its first legs.

The Union on the Flosse (Union an dem Flosse) is based on the river Flosse, its capital, Rückelburg is at the estuary in the Northern Sea's shore. Standard and crest features a silver racing hound in the centre, with four times cut black and silver fields. The Union is led by the four electors. Most of its inhabitants speak a German tongue, as do the people of Schultze-Böhnstadt.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

This is the hex grid based map (100x100 hexes) of the continent where the Principality of Schultze-Böhnstadt is situated. Its territories, towns and forts are marked red on the map, as red is the main color of the Principality's flag. More details on the neighboring countries in the next post.

Monday, October 8, 2012

This place will soon be filled up with infos about my latest gaming project reveling around the Principality of Schultze-Böhnstadt, an imaginary German-speaking state in an imaginary world. The characters are to be worked on; on the other hand, a map is already set and I will post it as soon as I can.

The time of conflict is 18th century by standard. The games will be progressed by the awesome Cossacks: Back to War strategy game. Here's a teaser for you:

Where does the inspiration come from? Mostly, boredom. I have relatively few classes on university (or at least relatively few which require my attendance), yet I have to stay in my student hostel room in weekdays, where I, out of courtesy, cannot get into splashing paint everywhere, which is my regular weekend hobby. So when I don't have to study or don't have any patience to read, and there aren't mad parties; well, I will make up virtual armies.